Container ashtray assemblies with ashtray lid members

ABSTRACT

A container ashtray assembly includes a cup-shaped container member comprising a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall to a mouth thereby defining a receptacle volume. An ashtray lid member includes a receptacle portion and a nesting portion. The receptacle portion includes a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall thereby defining an ashtray volume. The receptacle volume of the container member is greater than the ashtray volume of the ashtray lid member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to container ashtray assembliesand more specifically to container ashtray assemblies including ashtraylid members.

Ashtrays are known and used as a receptacle for tobacco ash andcigarette or cigar butts. Ashtrays are typically open-ended, walledstructures that define a volume for receiving the tobacco ash. Otherashtray containing assemblies are desired that can perform multiplefunctions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a container ashtray assembly includes a cup-shapedcontainer member comprising a bottom wall and a side wall extendingoutwardly from the bottom wall to a mouth thereby defining a receptaclevolume. An ashtray lid member includes a receptacle portion and anesting portion. The receptacle portion includes a bottom wall and aside wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall thereby defining anashtray volume. The receptacle volume of the container member is greaterthan the ashtray volume of the ashtray lid member.

In another embodiment, a container ashtray assembly includes acup-shaped container member comprising a bottom wall and a side wallextending outwardly from the bottom wall to a mouth thereby defining areceptacle volume suitable for carrying a liquid and drinking therefrom.An ashtray lid member includes a receptacle portion and a nestingportion. The receptacle portion includes a bottom wall and a side wallextending outwardly from the bottom wall thereby defining an ashtrayvolume.

In yet another embodiment, an ashtray lid member for a container ashtrayassembly includes a receptacle portion comprising a bottom wall and aside wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall thereby defining anashtray volume. A nesting portion is configured to nest within a mouthof a container member having a receptacle volume suitable for carrying aliquid and drinking therefrom. The ashtray lid member is configured toclose the receptacle volume inhibiting spillage of liquid therefrom.

These and other objects, features, embodiments, and advantages willbecome apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading ofthe following detailed description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention can be best understood when read in conjunction withthe following drawings, where like structure is indicated with likereference numerals and in which the various components of the drawingsare not necessarily illustrated to scale:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a container ashtrayassembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an ashtray lid memberfor the container ashtray assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side, section view of the container ashtray assembly of FIG.1; and

FIGS. 4 through 13 illustrate additional container ashtray assemblyembodiments having different volume shapes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments described herein generally relate to container ashtrayassemblies with ashtray lid members. The container ashtray assembliesinclude a cup-shaped container member that can releasably connect to theashtray lid member to form the container ashtray assembly. The ashtraylid member provides an ashtray volume that serves as a receptacle fortobacco ash and cigarette butts or other waste. The container memberprovides a larger volume that can serve as a receptacle for a liquid(such as water) or other material that can be kept separate from thereceptacle volume of the ashtray lid member to prevent mixing ofcontents of the receptacle volume of the ashtray lid member and thereceptacle volume of the container member.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a container ashtray assembly 10 includesan ashtray lid member 12 and a container member 14. FIG. 2 illustratesthe ashtray lid member 12 in isolation. The ashtray lid member 12includes a receptacle portion 16 and a nesting portion 18. Thereceptacle portion 16 has an outer diameter OD₁ that is greater than anouter diameter OD₂ of the nesting portion 18. In other embodiments, theouter diameter OD₂ of the nesting portion 18 may be greater than theouter diameter OD₁ of the receptacle portion 16. The outer diameter OD₂of the nesting portion 18 may be selected to be slidingly received witha mouth portion 20 of the container member 14. While a slidingarrangement is illustrated, the nesting portion 18 may have screwthreads or a sealing material that can mate with correspondingstructures on the container member 14. Further, a bottom 19 of thenesting portion 18 may be flat to rest on a support surface, such as atable.

The ashtray lid member 12 includes a bottom wall 22 and a side wall 24that extends about a periphery of the bottom wall 22. The side wall 24terminates at an upper ledge 26 forming a round shape; however, othershapes may be used. Holding features 28 may be provided about the upperledge 26. The holding features 28 may be formed as indentations ornotches that extend axially into the upper ledge 26. The holdingfeatures 28 may be used to hold and support an end of a tobacco product,such as a cigar, spaced away from the bottom wall 22.

The bottom wall 22 and the side wall 24 together form an ashtray volume32 that serves as a receptacle for tobacco ash and cigarette buttsand/or other waste. The ashtray volume 32 can be determined by thesuitable volume calculation for the particular shape, such as thecross-sectional area of the volume multiplied by the maximum height H₁from the bottom wall 22.

FIG. 3 illustrates with particularity that the ashtray lid member 12 maybe releasably connected to the container member 14. As can be seen, thenesting portion 18 of the ashtray lid member 12 can be received withinthe mouth 30 of the container member 14. The underside of the bottomwall 22 adjacent the nesting portion 18 can be sized to rest upon anupper ledge 26 of the container member 14. The container member 14 caninclude a bottom wall 40 and a sidewall 42 that extends upwardly fromthe bottom wall 40 defining a receptacle volume 34.

As can be seen, the receptacle volume 34 of the container member 14 islarger than the volume 32 of the ashtray lid member 12. In someembodiments, the receptacle volume 34 may be at least about 1.5 timesthe volume of the ashtray lid member 12, such as at least about 2 times,such as at least about 2.5 times, such as at least about 3 times. Asabove, the receptacle volume 34 of the container member 14 may bedetermined by a suitable volume equation, such as the cross sectionalarea of the volume multiplied by the height H₂ from the bottom wall 40.In some embodiments, a liquid or other suitable substance may be used todetermine volume. Any suitable material may be used to form the ashtraylid member 12 and the container member 14, such as plastics, metal, etc.and any suitable process may be used, such as molding, machining or thelike. Food grade plastics and other materials may be used.

FIGS. 4 through 13 illustrate additional container ashtray assemblyembodiments having different volume shapes 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610,710, 810, 910 and 1010, respectively. The above-described containerashtray assemblies can provide container members 114, 214, 314, 414,514, 614, 714, 814, 914 and 1014 that can releasably connect to thecorresponding ashtray lid members 112, 212, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712,812, 912 and 1012 in a manner generally similar to that of theembodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 through 3 where the ashtray lid memberprovides a volume that serves as a receptacle for tobacco ash andcigarette butts and/or other waste. The container members 114, 214, 314,414, 514, 614, 714, 814, 914 and 1014 provide a larger volume that canserve as a receptacle for a liquid or other material that can be keptseparate from the receptacle volume of the ashtray lid members 112, 212,312, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912 and 1012 to prevent mixing ofrespective contents.

It is noted that terms like “preferably”, “generally” and “typically”are not utilized herein to limit the scope of the claimed invention orto imply that certain features are critical, essential, or evenimportant to the structure or function of the claimed invention. Rather,these terms are merely intended to highlight alternative or additionalfeatures that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment ofthe present invention.

For the purposes of describing and defining the present invention, it isnoted that the terms “substantially” and “approximately” and theirvariants are utilized herein to represent the inherent degree ofuncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison,value, measurement or other representation. The term “substantially” isalso utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitativerepresentation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in achange in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.

Having described the invention in detail and by reference to specificembodiments, it will nonetheless be apparent that modifications andvariations are possible without departing from the scope of theinvention defined in the appended claims. In particular it iscontemplated that the scope of the present invention is not necessarilylimited to stated preferred aspects and exemplified embodiments, butshould be governed by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container ashtray assembly comprising: acup-shaped container member comprising a bottom wall and a side wallextending outwardly from the bottom wall to a mouth thereby defining areceptacle volume; and an ashtray lid member comprising a receptacleportion and a nesting portion, the receptacle portion comprising abottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wallthereby defining an ashtray volume; wherein the receptacle volume of thecontainer member is greater than the ashtray volume of the ashtray lidmember.
 2. The container ashtray assembly of claim 1, wherein thereceptacle volume of the container member is at least 1.5 times theashtray volume of the ashtray lid member.
 3. The container ashtrayassembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle volume of the containermember is at least 2 times the ashtray volume of the ashtray lid member.4. The container ashtray assembly of claim 1, wherein the containermember has a height that is greater than a height of the receptacleportion of the ashtray lid member.
 5. The container ashtray assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the nesting portion of the ashtray lid member is sizedto be received within the mouth of the container member.
 6. Thecontainer ashtray assembly of claim 1, wherein both the container memberand the ashtray lid member have a round periphery.
 7. The containerashtray assembly of claim 1, wherein the side wall of the ashtray lidmember terminates at an upper ledge.
 8. The container ashtray assemblyof claim 7 further comprising at least one holding feature providedabout the upper ledge of the ashtray lid member.
 9. A container ashtrayassembly comprising: a cup-shaped container member suitable comprising abottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall toa mouth thereby defining a receptacle volume suitable for carrying aliquid and drinking therefrom; and an ashtray lid member comprising areceptacle portion and a nesting portion, the receptacle portioncomprising a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from thebottom wall thereby defining an ashtray volume.
 10. The containerashtray assembly of claim 9, wherein the receptacle volume of thecontainer member is greater than the ashtray volume of the ashtray lidmember.
 11. The container ashtray assembly of claim 9, wherein thereceptacle volume of the container member is at least 1.5 times theashtray volume of the ashtray lid member.
 12. The container ashtrayassembly of claim 9, wherein the receptacle volume of the containermember is at least 2 times the ashtray volume of the ashtray lid member.13. The container ashtray assembly of claim 9, wherein the containermember has a height that is greater than a height of the receptacleportion of the ashtray lid member.
 14. The container ashtray assembly ofclaim 9, wherein the nesting portion of the ashtray lid member is sizedto be received within the mouth of the container member.
 15. Thecontainer ashtray assembly of claim 9, wherein both the container memberand the ashtray lid member have a round periphery.
 16. The containerashtray assembly of claim 9, wherein the side wall of the ashtray lidmember terminates at an upper ledge.
 17. The container ashtray assemblyof claim 16 further comprising at least one holding feature providedabout the upper ledge of the ashtray lid member.
 18. An ashtray lidmember for a container ashtray assembly, the ashtray lid membercomprising: a receptacle portion comprising a bottom wall and a sidewall extending outwardly from the bottom wall thereby defining anashtray volume; and a nesting portion configured to nest within a mouthof a container member having a receptacle volume suitable for carrying aliquid and drinking therefrom, the ashtray lid member configured toclose the receptacle volume inhibiting spillage of liquid therefrom. 19.The ashtray lid member of claim 18, wherein the side wall of the ashtraylid member terminates at an upper ledge.
 20. The ashtray lid member ofclaim 19 further comprising holding features provided about the upperledge of the ashtray lid member.